4th February
Slow Progress....... It's now into the second week since I've been in Thailand and there's been little to add to my travel blog so far; We've barely left the city. Today however, I plan to visit Pak Chong where we were married last October. It will be mainly a family visit. With a plan to stay up there a few days, overnight things have changed. Another gout attack that I have will mean traveling has to delayed although not necessarily as far as Pak Chong is concerned since I can get advice about my gout there. Additionally Katoon has planned a blood test. Under the circumstances we will travel up there but just for the day and see how it goes after that.
Pak Chong....... We arrive at Pak Chong before lunch and with those medical issues resolved we can continue back in mid-afternoon but not before a visit to Pak Chong Railway Station where there is some activity I can record and enjoy. So, still little to add to my travel blog but there are a couple of major long duration tours planned to take in some of those more remote areas from Bangkok. As mentioned after last year's work, I will be by winding down my touring this year with future visits becoming more opportunistic.
6th February
Land Search....... After another dot day to give the gout or whatever is in my right-hand time to settle down the situation has hardly improved but neither do I want to sit around all day at the residence. Ordinarily I'd be off exploring by now and searching for more content to add to my travel blog. However to muddy the waters there's another reason for me wanting to go searching around. Patiently using the residence in Kubon, Bang Khen, I have to concede that I've never been comfortable with it. I'm not a city person anyway although my partner is. While well out the city itself the residence is not convenient to anywhere and I rely so much on the vehicle. I wish to move out of Bangkok if at all possible and believe it the time right to consider other options. I believe two hours possibly three from Bangkok is what I'd be looking for and preferably in a more scenic location. However, when I awake this morning I am clueless as to how to make a start but Katoon suggest Nakhon Nayok where I can see possibilities. For the moment though we concentrate on Pathum Thani on the way.
Low Lying....... All of Pathum Thani is low-lying consisting of rice paddies crisscrossed with klongs (canals). It is mostly featureless except that the klongs provide an interesting habitat with peaceful tree lined roads along their course. In the UK we would call this fen land and as far as land values are concerned here it's relatively cheap. Much further to the east and north however, there is Khao Yai National Park which provides a natural barrier between the central plains and the plateau to the east. As far as site visits are concerned there are a good number of opportunities but as I've had no time to make notes I leave the itinerary to my partner and that means temple visits of course.
Wat Pa Lert Tham Nimit....... Venturing up a small road in Klong 11, Bung Thong Lang in Lam Luk Ka District of Pathum Thani we locate Wat Pa Lert Tham Nimit. This temple has a traditional style ubosot that is more modest than most but the buildings set in a lovely garden setting are modern and could be mistaken for any new offices. However the assembly hall is a giveaway as to its function. This is the Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo Foundation site founded by Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo for meditation practice and as a legacy of his work at this temple. This was his final ecclesiastical position prior to his death.
These memorials and foundations have cropped up all over Thailand wherever support has been gathered for a prominent monk due to his wisdom and teachings. Well, this is not in my sphere of interest but it clearly is for many others. We move on and I shouldn't be surprised that Katoon heads for another temple but this time one that she is quite familiar with.
Wat Pa Khlong 11....... Locating Wat Pa Khlong 11 in Amphoe Nong Suea still in Pathum Thani Province, I find a delightful temple built around a small lake or pond, The most pleasing feature is the 'temple in the middle of the water' for the worship of the Nagaraj (serpent). The temple was commissioned by the eldest daughter of Mr. Kampol Rujiaporn who died in 1993 of lung cancer. A number of religious artifacts have been brought to this temple and housed discreetly in an adjacent wooden building.
This temple is again of just academic interest to me but to be fair I just cannot concentrate my entire time on Thailand's railways. We now need to make some progress to reach Nakhon Nayok Province and look for a late lunch. We find ourselves in Dong Lakhon and near yet another temple but one that cannot be overlooked on account of its prestige and importance. I'm just gonna have to run with it today.
Wat Maneewong....... Wat Maneewong lies south of the city of Nakhon Nayok near the ancient settlement of Dong Lakhon. You enter the temple through a golden gate and immediately in front of you is a Buddha in the so-called Paleilai posture receiving offerings from a monkey and an elephant. To the left is a viharn in Chinese style on top of which is a giant Buddha named Luang Po Pan Lan typically with Chinese characteristics. To the right is delightful ubosot decorated entirely in gold with the remarkable presence of effigies of Garuda aligned on the crest of the roof. Impressive already, the complex has recently added a cave-like shelter where an imposing Buddha sits.
It's mid-afternoon and turning out to be the hottest day so far this time in Thailand. Wat Maneewong has turned into a huge complex and I'm not at all comfortable walking round in these conditions especially still feeling pain in my right hand. However it's important to explore the cave structure now we're here. The complex takes time to walk through all the different passageways but wherever you look there is extravagance which as a Westerner I find it hard to comprehend. It's just like a film set for a Raiders of the Lost Arc movie. The lighting, the twisting nagas all around you and the gold and glitter are a signal of what you might expect if you give up part of your possessions today. I'm sorry, I just don't buy that. I'd rather see something more tangible to invest in. At the end of the day though I recommend you come and see for yourself. The important thing is there is no entry fee but you can contribute what you like. This is all about mind games.
Cha Om....... At this point treating this as an exploratory trip for possible resettlement has started to evaporate. Katoon did ask some local people while taking lunch about land purchase but this area is not quite what I had in mind. We need to be further north with mountain views. We backtrack and soon find ourselves heading out of the province and into the distict of Kaeng Khoi in Saraburi Province where I find an area that looks promising in Cha Om. This is right on the western edge of Khao Yai National Park. However, on the contrary my partner doesn't seem too impressed even though there is land for sale here, and she seems happy just to press to another temple a bit further on. With time running out this will be our last visit for the day.
Wat Pa Sawang Bun....... Wat Pa Sawang Bun was built in 1985 by Luang Pho Somchai Punyamano on his father's land. The temple covers the area of around 400 rai. Later, in 2005, a number of Buddhists from Saraburi, and all over the country who had faith in Luang Pho Somchai conjointly built a chedi named 'Phra Maha Ratana Loha Chedi Sisatsana Bodisat Sawangbun' for Wat Pa Sawangbun. Completely constructed in 2007, the chedi is elegantly beautiful. The chief chedi stands in the centre, surrounded by smaller chedis on the circular pedestal. Dissimilar to any other chedi in Thailand, this Chedi has 500 pinnacles, therefore it is called Chedi Ha Roi Yot' (or Chedi with 500 pinnacles).
Out of Reach....... Well, this trip is over and Buddhists would be completely satisfied with the day's work but personally it's not been for me. Finally, Katoon has asked local people about the cost of land in this area and I guess I shouldn't be surprised to learn that it is around four times the price I would have liked to pay. The point is that if I like it then others will too. The area is just two hours from Bangkok and obviously convenient for weekend visits.
As far as today is concerned they say that you learn from failures and that's just the way I have to look at it today. I'm just going to be patient and think about the long game but on the other hand I have some long trips planned and I may not have so much time.
Slow Progress....... It's now into the second week since I've been in Thailand and there's been little to add to my travel blog so far; We've barely left the city. Today however, I plan to visit Pak Chong where we were married last October. It will be mainly a family visit. With a plan to stay up there a few days, overnight things have changed. Another gout attack that I have will mean traveling has to delayed although not necessarily as far as Pak Chong is concerned since I can get advice about my gout there. Additionally Katoon has planned a blood test. Under the circumstances we will travel up there but just for the day and see how it goes after that.
Pak Chong....... We arrive at Pak Chong before lunch and with those medical issues resolved we can continue back in mid-afternoon but not before a visit to Pak Chong Railway Station where there is some activity I can record and enjoy. So, still little to add to my travel blog but there are a couple of major long duration tours planned to take in some of those more remote areas from Bangkok. As mentioned after last year's work, I will be by winding down my touring this year with future visits becoming more opportunistic.
6th February
Land Search....... After another dot day to give the gout or whatever is in my right-hand time to settle down the situation has hardly improved but neither do I want to sit around all day at the residence. Ordinarily I'd be off exploring by now and searching for more content to add to my travel blog. However to muddy the waters there's another reason for me wanting to go searching around. Patiently using the residence in Kubon, Bang Khen, I have to concede that I've never been comfortable with it. I'm not a city person anyway although my partner is. While well out the city itself the residence is not convenient to anywhere and I rely so much on the vehicle. I wish to move out of Bangkok if at all possible and believe it the time right to consider other options. I believe two hours possibly three from Bangkok is what I'd be looking for and preferably in a more scenic location. However, when I awake this morning I am clueless as to how to make a start but Katoon suggest Nakhon Nayok where I can see possibilities. For the moment though we concentrate on Pathum Thani on the way.
Low Lying....... All of Pathum Thani is low-lying consisting of rice paddies crisscrossed with klongs (canals). It is mostly featureless except that the klongs provide an interesting habitat with peaceful tree lined roads along their course. In the UK we would call this fen land and as far as land values are concerned here it's relatively cheap. Much further to the east and north however, there is Khao Yai National Park which provides a natural barrier between the central plains and the plateau to the east. As far as site visits are concerned there are a good number of opportunities but as I've had no time to make notes I leave the itinerary to my partner and that means temple visits of course.
Wat Pa Lert Tham Nimit....... Venturing up a small road in Klong 11, Bung Thong Lang in Lam Luk Ka District of Pathum Thani we locate Wat Pa Lert Tham Nimit. This temple has a traditional style ubosot that is more modest than most but the buildings set in a lovely garden setting are modern and could be mistaken for any new offices. However the assembly hall is a giveaway as to its function. This is the Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo Foundation site founded by Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo for meditation practice and as a legacy of his work at this temple. This was his final ecclesiastical position prior to his death.
These memorials and foundations have cropped up all over Thailand wherever support has been gathered for a prominent monk due to his wisdom and teachings. Well, this is not in my sphere of interest but it clearly is for many others. We move on and I shouldn't be surprised that Katoon heads for another temple but this time one that she is quite familiar with.
Wat Pa Khlong 11....... Locating Wat Pa Khlong 11 in Amphoe Nong Suea still in Pathum Thani Province, I find a delightful temple built around a small lake or pond, The most pleasing feature is the 'temple in the middle of the water' for the worship of the Nagaraj (serpent). The temple was commissioned by the eldest daughter of Mr. Kampol Rujiaporn who died in 1993 of lung cancer. A number of religious artifacts have been brought to this temple and housed discreetly in an adjacent wooden building.
This temple is again of just academic interest to me but to be fair I just cannot concentrate my entire time on Thailand's railways. We now need to make some progress to reach Nakhon Nayok Province and look for a late lunch. We find ourselves in Dong Lakhon and near yet another temple but one that cannot be overlooked on account of its prestige and importance. I'm just gonna have to run with it today.
Wat Maneewong....... Wat Maneewong lies south of the city of Nakhon Nayok near the ancient settlement of Dong Lakhon. You enter the temple through a golden gate and immediately in front of you is a Buddha in the so-called Paleilai posture receiving offerings from a monkey and an elephant. To the left is a viharn in Chinese style on top of which is a giant Buddha named Luang Po Pan Lan typically with Chinese characteristics. To the right is delightful ubosot decorated entirely in gold with the remarkable presence of effigies of Garuda aligned on the crest of the roof. Impressive already, the complex has recently added a cave-like shelter where an imposing Buddha sits.
It's mid-afternoon and turning out to be the hottest day so far this time in Thailand. Wat Maneewong has turned into a huge complex and I'm not at all comfortable walking round in these conditions especially still feeling pain in my right hand. However it's important to explore the cave structure now we're here. The complex takes time to walk through all the different passageways but wherever you look there is extravagance which as a Westerner I find it hard to comprehend. It's just like a film set for a Raiders of the Lost Arc movie. The lighting, the twisting nagas all around you and the gold and glitter are a signal of what you might expect if you give up part of your possessions today. I'm sorry, I just don't buy that. I'd rather see something more tangible to invest in. At the end of the day though I recommend you come and see for yourself. The important thing is there is no entry fee but you can contribute what you like. This is all about mind games.
Cha Om....... At this point treating this as an exploratory trip for possible resettlement has started to evaporate. Katoon did ask some local people while taking lunch about land purchase but this area is not quite what I had in mind. We need to be further north with mountain views. We backtrack and soon find ourselves heading out of the province and into the distict of Kaeng Khoi in Saraburi Province where I find an area that looks promising in Cha Om. This is right on the western edge of Khao Yai National Park. However, on the contrary my partner doesn't seem too impressed even though there is land for sale here, and she seems happy just to press to another temple a bit further on. With time running out this will be our last visit for the day.
Wat Pa Sawang Bun....... Wat Pa Sawang Bun was built in 1985 by Luang Pho Somchai Punyamano on his father's land. The temple covers the area of around 400 rai. Later, in 2005, a number of Buddhists from Saraburi, and all over the country who had faith in Luang Pho Somchai conjointly built a chedi named 'Phra Maha Ratana Loha Chedi Sisatsana Bodisat Sawangbun' for Wat Pa Sawangbun. Completely constructed in 2007, the chedi is elegantly beautiful. The chief chedi stands in the centre, surrounded by smaller chedis on the circular pedestal. Dissimilar to any other chedi in Thailand, this Chedi has 500 pinnacles, therefore it is called Chedi Ha Roi Yot' (or Chedi with 500 pinnacles).
Out of Reach....... Well, this trip is over and Buddhists would be completely satisfied with the day's work but personally it's not been for me. Finally, Katoon has asked local people about the cost of land in this area and I guess I shouldn't be surprised to learn that it is around four times the price I would have liked to pay. The point is that if I like it then others will too. The area is just two hours from Bangkok and obviously convenient for weekend visits.
As far as today is concerned they say that you learn from failures and that's just the way I have to look at it today. I'm just going to be patient and think about the long game but on the other hand I have some long trips planned and I may not have so much time.
Nakhon Ratchasima Province - 4 Feb
HSR Construction, Pak Chong
Pak Chong Railway Station, Pak Chong
Pathum Thani Province - 6 Feb
Wat Pa Lert Tham Nimit, Bung Thong Lang, Lam Luk Ka
Wat Pa Khlong 11, Bung Ka Sam, Nong Suea
Nakhon Nayok Province - 6 Feb
Wat Maneewong, Dong Lakhon,
Mueang Nakhon Nayok
Saraburi Province - 6 Feb
Wat Pa Sawang Bun, Cha Om, Kaeng Khoi